Wirebound box blank



Aug. 15, 1933. F DURAND 1,922,842

W I REBOUND BOX BLANK Filed Dec. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 15, 1933 WIREBOUND BOX BLANK Y l Arthur F. Durand, Ravinia, Ill., assigner to,

Saranac Patents Holding Company, Benton Harbor, `aV Corporation of Michigan Application December 5, 1930; vSerial No. 500,164

6 claims. (ci. 217-12) This invention relates to` cleat construction for Wirebound or similar boxes. Y y

Generally stated, one object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved formation of the cleats of the box or crate -or othercontainer,

whereby the tongue of the cleat is, in effect, tapered toward its end, either a straight taper or a curved taper, longitudinally of the cleat, while the notch or groove of the other end ofthe cleat'is, in effect, tapered transversely. of the cleat, either by a straight taper or a curved taper, whereby certain interlocking action and'elements of strength are obtained, in the engagement of the cleats with each other, when the box blank or other side sections are brought into proper relative position to each other,`with the ends of the cleats interlocking, therebyio form a box or crate of the desired forinjor shape;

Another object is to provide a novel and improved relative formation ofthe cleats, whereby the notch or groove at one end of the cleat is provided with three walls, whereby the tongue of another cleat does not extend entirely through the thickness of the cleat having said notch or groove, the end of the tongue being covered or concealed by the third or end wall of thevnotch in the other cleat.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a wirebound box blank having the cleats thereof formed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of the box or crate in finished condition;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom planrview of one` of the cleats of said blank;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of said cleat;

Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are respective views of cleats, showing different forms of the invention.

As thus illustrated, referring to Figs.` 1 to 5, inclusive, the invention comprises a wirebound box blank comprising four sheets or side wall sections 1, 2, 3 and 4, having `reinforcing cleats 5 on the under side thereof. Each cleat has its one end provided with a tapered tongue 6, a straight taper, longitudinally, of the cleat, while the other end of the cleat is provided with a groove or notch 7 which is tapered transversely of thecleat. In this way, when the two cleats are substantially at right angles to each other, the tapered tongue of Vone cleat willl move straight ahead into the flaring or tapered notch or groove of vthe other cleat, when the blank is folded into box form. In this way, a cleat tongue, which is tapered toward its end, moves easily and smoothly into a notch having a flaringmouth on the under side of the cleat, so that folding of the blank is facilitated, asv less accuracy is required in the 6 manipulation and positioning of the cleat ends relatively to each other, preliminaryv to their engagement with each other.

As shown in Fig. 6,fthe cleat formation is substantially like that previously described, but in this case the tongue 8 is rounded at its end, the

Vother sides of .the tongue being parallel, and the notch 91s correspondingly formed, whereby this notchor groove has three side walls; but, even in this case, the tongue 9 is, in effect, tapered toward its end by a rounding taper, and the .not'ch'or groove is correspondingly tapered or formed to receive the tongue.

In Fig. 7, the construction is similar to that shown in Fig. 5, but in this case the end of the straight taperedl tongue 10 is rounded, and the notch or groove 11" in the other cleat is similarly formed, `whereby Ya notch or groove, which is tapered transversely of one cleat, providing a aring mouth at the bottom of the cleat, receives a tongue tapered longitudinally of another cleat; but in this case also, the notch 11 has three side walls.

In Fig; 8, theconstruction is similar to that shown in Figs. 6 and 7, but in this case the tongue 12 is rounded in the form of a half circle, and the notch or groove 13 of the other cleat is similarly formed, whereby a tongue which, in effect, is tapered longitudinally of one cleat, is received in a groove or notch which is tapered transversely of another cleat; and in this case, the notch 13 has three side walls, but the bottom wall of the notch is much thicker than the two lateral side walls.

In Fig. 9, the tongue 14 of one cleat is tapered transversely of this cleat, while the similarly formed groove or notch 15 is tapered longitudinally of the other cleat; but, as will be seen, it is true that in this case the notch or groove 15 has three side walls, the two lateral side walls, and the transverse walls, which is at the top of the cleat. Thus, in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the end of the tongue of one cleat extends to, and is concealed by, an end wall or side wall of a notch in the other cleat, which provides a strong and non-splitting formation for the ends of the cleats. In Fig. 5, it will be seen that splitting is less liable than with certain formations heretofore employed for the cleats, as in this case the tongue 6 is thicker at its. base than at its end, and the two prongs at face of the cleat, to which top surface the said sheets 1, 2, 3 and 4 are secured. In addition, it

will be understood that the binding wires 16 are secured to the sheets and the cleats by'staples (not shown) in the usual and 'well known manner.

With the formation shown in Figs. :6, 7, 8 and 9,

the sheets `do not overlie any notches or grooves,

inasmuch as in each of these forms of the invention, the notch has a top Wall engaging the under-- side of the sheet of Veneer or other material. It will be understood 'that Y,thefcleats are preferably nade of Wood, although any suitable material can be employed. But when wood isemployed, the formation employed for the ends of the cleats and non-splitting plained.

yThe notches of FigsjG vto 9 inclusive have a tendencies, as heretofore eX`- covering Wall at' the`top, and each notchis thus open only at the bottom and end thereof, vIn Figs. 5 to 8 inclusiveV the tongue is thicker at its base than the extreme end-thereof when viewedA from the'top, but is of uniformwidth when viewed from the s ide, and of thes'ame area at topA and bottom. i

. Whatl claim as my invention is: v,

l. 'A reinforcing wood cleat for boxes or crates, formed to strengthen the corners of the box, havu ing the grain rOfth'e wood extending lengthwise thereof, characterized by the fact that said cleat has a tongue at one vend and a notch at theother end thereof, j'said tongue being in effect tapered toward its end, longitudinally of the grain'of the cleat, whereby the tongue is thicker at its base than at the extreme end thereof, when viewed from above, but is of uniform width when viewed from the side, and has the same area at the top and bottom thereof, said notch being in effect tapered transversely of the cleat, from the bottorn of the cleat toward the top thereof, crossvviseof the grain, whereby a pluralityv of cleats of this formation will interlock at their ends, at

Ythe. corners of the box, thereby to reduce the danger of splitting of the cleats when the box is dropped orroughly handled.

2.1Avstructure as specified in claim l, said notch having a side wall at the top of the cleat, formed integral with the two lateral walls thereof.

A `rounded end fitting Vthe rounded end of the notch. is of value and advantage, in the Way of strength v 5. A structureas 'specified in claim 1, said which are parallel for asimilar distance. v 6. A, reinforcing'wood'cleat for boxes or crates, forinedto strengtheny the corners of the box, having the grain of the Wood extending lengthwise thereof, characterized byy the 'fact that said cleat has a tongue at one endand a notch at the other end, said notch having a 'covering wall jat the top. of the cleat,A between the two lateral walls of the cleat, leavingk onlythe bottom and end of the notch open, whereby a plurality of cleats'of this formation willV interlock at their ends, with leach tongue end against a notch-covering wall, at the corners of thebox, thereby to reduce the danger 

